stress free way to break broody spell in peahen?

[chicknmania]

Hello again

Our peahen Snap was unsuccessful in hatching any of her eggs. She is refusing to give up, though they are two weeks overdue and I know they will not hatch. She is starting to lose some weight and i'm getting concerned. She usually does this, she's usually not successful and will not give up, but she's getting older now and I am worried she might get sick. She dislikes being handled and I know she would seriously stress out if I tried confining her to break her broody spell. I'm reluctant to take away the eggs for the same reason, but I wondered if I took them away one at a time over a period of days, if that might encourage her to give up sooner? She will, of course, eventually give up, but just trying to help her along this time.

 

[sourland]

If it were me, I would take the eggs and disrupt the nest site - even penning her away from it if possible. I would be concerned about an older bird becoming so debilitated that she could not regain condition. @casportpony

 

[casportpony]

If it were me, I would take the eggs and disrupt the nest site - even penning her away from it if possible. I would be concerned about an older bird becoming so debilitated that she could not regain condition. @casportpony

I agree.

 

[KsKingBee]

The eggs should have been taken away by at least a week of being overdue. If she continues after taking them away disrupt the nest.

 

[chicknmania]

Ok will do. She will be stressed but I guess that's the lesser of two evils.

 

[chicknmania]

I just hate to mess with the nest because I want her to continue to trust me enough to nest where I can monitor her and the nest from year to year rather than decide she has to go off somewhere and hide her nest next time. But yes ok I see the point that's why I posted. Thanks.

 

[KsKingBee]

I have never had a free range hen set in the same place twice, I keep hoping they would as under the pool deck is a very safe place for them... not that I like to remove deck boards to get to the nest...

 

[CJLR]

Try removing 2 or 3 eggs every night until she realizes that the eggs are gone also keep food and water in front of her

 

[chicknmania]

Try removing 2 or 3 eggs every night until she realizes that the eggs are gone also keep food and water in front of her

That's what I started doing today. I think it's a more natural and less stressful way to do it, as the hen herself would gradually remove the bad eggs from the nest one at a time. She's been getting off the nest every day the past couple of days to get food, water, and some sun and fresh air. She's already destroyed one egg.

 

[chicknmania]

I have never had a free range hen set in the same place twice, I keep hoping they would as under the pool deck is a very safe place for them... not that I like to remove deck boards to get to the nest...

I haven't either, but Snap has always made her nest in plain view in the barn, never outside, and that is what I want her to keep doing. I wish she would nest in the same place too!